Switch-point.



P. B. JONES.

SWITCH POINT.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.17, 1913.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

jzg i rrn FRANK B. JONES, or snnnvnroier, LOUISIANA.

SWITCH-POINT.

Application filed December 17, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK B. JoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Points; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches and particularly to means for holding or looking the switch in position.

The object of the present invention resides in the provision of a switch wherein is provided means for locking the switch point with relation to the rail, said means being disposed adjacent the rail instead of at or adjacent the switch stand, so that danger of the lock being rendered inoperative through accident to the switch stand is obviated.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a switch and switch locking means which may be easily and quickly operated and which comprises a minimum number of parts so that it is durable in use and may be cheaply manufactured and installed.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the switch operating and locking means, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. a is a sectional view on the line 41 of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking bar, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bar for moving the switch point.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 5 designates the rail ties on which is positioned the stationary rail 6. There is shown a switch point 7 movable toward and away from the rail and having extending therefrom the links 8 for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Serial No. 807,305.

actuating the other switch point of the I switch, (not shown).

$ecured on the ties under the rail 6 and switch point 7 and adjacent the free end of the latter is a base plate 9 which serves as a support for the switch point operating means and also as a bearing for the free end of the switch point. That portion of the plate outwardly of the rail 6 is provided with a plurality ofupstanding lugs 10 engaging the rail to prevent outward movement or spreading thereof. The top face of the plate is also provided with a groove 11 disposed transversely of the rail and slid able in this groove and extending under the rail and switch point is a bar 12 which has its inner end portion bent upwardly to provide a flange 13 engaging the inner face of the switch point 7 and connected therewith by a bolt 13 passing through the flange 13 and through a slot in the web of the switch point. Secured to its outer end is a link 14 whereby the bar 12 mav be slid in the groove to bring the switch point into engagement with the rail. The link 14: is preferably connected to any desired form of switch stand.

To provide means carried by the plate for locking the bar 12 against movement to thus lock the switch point against movement with relation to the rail, the outer portion of the base is provided with an upstanding lug 15 which is pivotally secured between the furcations 16 of one end of a bar 17 which extends transversely of the bar 12. The other end of the bar 17 is provided with an opening 18 through which is passed an upstanding member 19 on the plate, said member being directed laterally at its upper end to prevent the bar disengaging therefrom. Thus it is seen that the bar is allowed a limited vertical movement and is securely held against horizontal movement. The adjacent faces of the bars 12 and 17 are provided with transverse grooves 20 and 21 respectively. Disposed in the groove 21 is a block 22 which is adjustably held with relation to the bar 17 by bolts 23 passed through the block and bar and suitable spacing plates 24: clampingly held between the blocks and bar. The block 22 may thus be adjustably positioned so that when the switch is thrown, the bar 17 will by gravity drop to position its block 22 in the groove 20 of the bar 12 and thus effectively lock said bar against movement to release the switch point.

To release the above locking means, an angle lever 25 is pivoted at its angle portion to the base plate adjacent the apertured end of the bar 12 and has one of its arms extending under the bar whereby the operator may press his foot on the other arm to raise the bar 17 and thus lift this block 22 out of the groove 20 so that the bar 12 may be moved for shifting the switch point 7. As the bar 12 is moved inwardly or outwardly the switch point 7 will be moved accordingly by virtue of the bolt 13 connecting the flange 13 and the switch point.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and efiicient structure has been provided which will efiiciently perform the functions normally required thereof.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a switch, the combination with a rail and a movable switch point, of a plate positioned thereunder and provided with .a groove, a bar slidable in the groove and provided with a transverse groove, said bar engaging the switch point to move the same, a second bar pivoted to the plate and extending transversely of the first and provided at its free end with an opening, an upright on the plate passed through the opening, a portion of the second bar being adapted to seat in the groove of the first bar and a pivoted lever engaging the tree portion of the second bar to raise the same.

2. In a switch, the combination with a rail and the movable switch point, of a plate positioned thereunder and provided with a f groove, a bar slidable in the groove and provided with a transverse groove, said bar engaging the switch point to move the same, asecond bar pivoted to the plate and extending transversely of the first bar and provided at its free end with an opening, an upright on the plate extending through the opening, said second named bar being provided with a recess adjacent the transverse groove of said first named bar, a block clamped in said recess, said block being adapted to seat in the groove of the first named bar, and a pivoted lever engaging the lower side of the free end of the second named bar to raise the same.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. JONES. lVitnesses:

V. L. Fnnsn'r, VVALTER H. POLK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. r 

